Any intelligent human being understands that one does not – in the 21st century – publicly touch on the subject of Islamic jihad and religious compulsion, no matter how delicately or distinctively, unless one wants to deal with a reaction that is both primitive and intimidating, by a group demonstrably closed to dialogue.
And yet Benedict, clearly an intelligent man, has done so. He has, in essence, dared to say to Islam, “Is this really what you want to be doing, in this century? The rest of the world’s religions have put away the swords…how about we talk?”
Up to now, no one has come out and said that to Islam. The Pope is the first.
Matoko Kusanagi has a somewhat different perspective. Though to be honest, I haven’t noticed her taking this kind of advice herself . . . .